Sakira's Photo Thread

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 12:52 pm

It's been a long time in planning, but I'm now ready to start taking and posting some photos of Sakira, S30 head and 158B body from Sino Doll. While I'm an experienced (amateur) photographer, I've always gravitated towards landscape, macro, and astro photography, so doing portrait photography is an entirely new thing for me. I've got loads to learn and a ton of ideas to work with, so any critiques would be really appreciated.

For Sakira's configuration and review, please see the review link in my signature. Also included a link to my (our?) Twitter account, where Sakira and Takiko will be posting more photos and talking to the world.

Special thanks to Mia over at Yourdoll for assisting me during the purchasing process and to MannequinFan for working on a Sino version of his Easy Move Eyes.

With all that out of the way, here are a few photos from Sakira's first photo shoot as a pirate (obligatory arrrrgh here). I was still having lots of issues with process during this shoot, so I didn't get to do everything I wanted to, but I'll probably revisit this theme again.....because pirates.

Enjoy! (second obligatory arrrrrrgggh!)

kevinth1985 · Post by **kevinth1985** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 2:31 pm

Sakira makes a very beautiful pirate!

Post by **Your Doll** » Wed Jan 06, 2021 7:53 pm

Wow! Sakira looks unique, and you really take excellent work on photos!

matt gloss · Post by **matt gloss** » Thu Jan 07, 2021 5:39 am

Thankyou very much and may I say ARRRGGH shebe luvly arrgh.

Seriously I am very attracted and I feel she is the one to save up for a travel permit

Matt

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:14 pm

matt gloss wrote:Thankyou very much and may I say ARRRGGH shebe luvly arrgh.

Seriously I am very attracted and I feel she is the one to save up for a travel permit

Matt

She flies first class! (ie, I was happy with the packaging)

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:20 pm

I finally started getting standing right with this photo shoot and am pretty happy with the results.

As for the theme...I have no clue. Sakira was still wearing her eyepatch awaiting new eyes, and I had just received the string bikini in the mail. Put on the string bikini and started thinking of a weird intergalactic steampunk kind of vibe....so this happened.

: 20210104_134915.jpg (349.76 KiB) Viewed 3392 times

Don't move!

: 20210107_144900-Edit.jpg (864.17 KiB) Viewed 3392 times

arkham71 · Post by **arkham71** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 1:39 pm

RandomShock wrote:I finally started getting standing right with this photo shoot and am pretty happy with the results.

As for the theme...I have no clue. Sakira was still wearing her eyepatch awaiting new eyes, and I had just received the string bikini in the mail. Put on the string bikini and started thinking of a weird intergalactic steampunk kind of vibe....so this happened.

20210104_134915.jpg

Don't move!
20210107_144900-Edit.jpg

Wow, these shots are quite impressive. I really like the gun, and I think I have that same hat in my bedroom somewhere.

I think that's a very creative way to use the props that you already have on hand.

The lighting is also really good in these shots.

keira_kun · Post by **keira_kun** » Sat Jan 09, 2021 8:41 pm

That's really cool standing pose!
What's the trick?)

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Sun Jan 10, 2021 3:22 am

keira_kun wrote:That's really cool standing pose!
What's the trick?)

I pounded some grommets into a piece of leather and attached some 100 pound braided fishing line to two carabiners (I should swap these to my black diamond ones since these have a couple of sharp places that will damage the line if I'm not careful). The grommet without any line goes over the neck bolt, then I anchor the carabiners in opposite directions with some sandbags. The weight is still on her foot, so the anchors don't have too much effort to keep her balanced.

: standing_assist.jpg (474.4 KiB) Viewed 3328 times

I'll also probably switch to black powder coated aircraft cable in the future, since I'll be using that and some harnesses to lift the dolls for more action/flying poses.

Here's how it looks while she's still also being held upright.

: 20210104_131154.jpg (1.01 MiB) Viewed 3330 times

And now for some 'free' standing!

: 20210104_114528.jpg (818.4 KiB) Viewed 3330 times

scooter_ca · Post by **scooter_ca** » Wed Jan 13, 2021 11:50 pm

Hi RandomShock.
Great pictures of Sakira, and an excellent balancing idea.

It's good that her one leg can handle the weight, instead of your balancing device.
I'm thinking that with this two hole configuration, if you tried to get the device to take some weight it would force Sakira's head to tip forward.
To get the device to handle more weight, perhaps a three hole configuration would be better.
Put the middle grommet over the neck bolt and attach the carabiners to the outer two grommets.

Thanks,
scooter

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Thu Jan 14, 2021 12:48 am

scooter_ca wrote:Hi RandomShock.
Great pictures of Sakira, and an excellent balancing idea.

It's good that her one leg can handle the weight, instead of your balancing device.
I'm thinking that with this two hole configuration, if you tried to get the device to take some weight it would force Sakira's head to tip forward.
To get the device to handle more weight, perhaps a three hole configuration would be better.
Put the middle grommet over the neck bolt and attach the carabiners to the outer two grommets.

Aye, this was never meant to bear weight, as it doesn't take much force at all to keep a doll balanced once standing. However, I am going to make a few changes to it this weekend, adding two more points and switching to dark gray braided lines (cleaner to remove in post when the line is in front of hair). I'll move the sandbags anchoring the two existing points a bit forward, then add two more points being anchored at 45 degree angles. Doing it this way should hopefully hold it in a static position, reducing any potential for wobbling. Sakira can handle some wobbling with her stiffer joints, but Takiko really needs to be rooted in place to allow for dynamic standing poses (postponed her yoga/tai chi photo shoot until later).

As for a weight-bearing system, I plan to use harnesses and aircraft cable to hold the dolls in the air (something like these). I may eventually want a full body harness, but for just starting out, a three pick waist/leg harness should do the trick (and I can keep using this neck system for balancing). I already have a truss system overhead that will support the weight of the dolls easily. Obviously, can't really conceal a harness when only wearing a swimsuit, so I may at times use some neoprene-sheathed nylon straps under the armpits, concealed by artfully arranging the doll's hair to hide the straps. Either way, I'm pretty interested in seeing what I can do.

Jimpink · Post by **Jimpink** » Thu Jan 14, 2021 3:20 pm

RandomShock wrote:I finally started getting standing right with this photo shoot and am pretty happy with the results.

As for the theme...I have no clue. Sakira was still wearing her eyepatch awaiting new eyes, and I had just received the string bikini in the mail. Put on the string bikini and started thinking of a weird intergalactic steampunk kind of vibe....so this happened.

20210104_134915.jpg

This is super cute! Can't really say anymore...apart from excellent gun perhaps.

RandomShock · Post by **RandomShock** » Thu Jan 14, 2021 4:47 pm

As the gun elicited some comments on its own, thought I'd go ahead and link it here. It's extremely light, so I only had to use fishing line in one of the shots to help Sakira with her aim. And, just for fun, here is the hat.